THE NIKE VAPOR LASER TALON; INTRODUCING SLS TECHNOLOGY

Although not a football item per se, the Nike Vapor Laser
Talons offer a glimpse into the future of how football boots, and perhaps many
other objects we take for granted, will be made. Designed for American football rather than
soccer, the boots/cleats have been manufactured using the latest 3D printing
techniques.

The plate of the cleat is crafted using Selective Laser
Sintering technology (SLS). It is the sport’s first 3D-printed plate. SLS is a
manufacturing technique that uses high-powered lasers to fuse small particles
of materials into a three-dimentional shape. Through proprietary material
selection, Nike was able to prototype a fully functional plate and traction
system within a fraction of the traditional timeframe and at a fraction of the
weight. The SLS process allows for the engineering and creation of shapes not
possible in traditional manufacturing processes. It also provides the ability
to make design updates within hours instead of months to truly accelerate the
innovation process to never seen before speeds.

“SLS technology has revolutionized the way we design cleat
plates – even beyond football – and gives Nike the ability to create solutions
that were not possible within the constraints of traditional manufacturing
processes,” said Shane Kohatsu, Director of Nike Footwear Innovation.